A More Effective Ramsar Convention for the Conservation of Mediterranean Wetlands

The Ramsar Convention is the multilateral agreement aimed at protecting wetlands globally. Wetlands are particularly recognized for their role in the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot by providing key habitats for endemic and migratory species, directly contributing benefits to the lives of people and being an integral part of their culture. In response to this importance, the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory publishes Mediterranean Wetland Outlooks (MWOs) on the state and trends of Mediterranean wetlands; the first edition in 2012 (MWO1) and the second edition in 2018 (MWO2). In this paper, we used the results of the two Mediterranean Wetland Outlooks to highlight ways to increase the impact of the Ramsar Convention by identifying the spatial dimensions of detected biodiversity trends as well as the societal developments and estimated impacts of global change and protection status

Key criteria for developing ecosystem service indicators to inform decision making

Decision makers are increasingly interested in information from ecosystem services (ES) assessments. Scientists have for long recognised the importance of selecting appropriate indicators. Yet, while the amount and variety of indicators developed by scientists seems to increase continuously, the extent to which the indicators truly inform decision makers is often unknown and questioned. In this viewpoint paper, we reflect and provide guidance on how to develop appropriate ES indicators for informing decision making, building on scientific literature and practical experience collected from researchers involved in seven case studies. We synthesized 16 criteria for ES indicator selection and organized them according to the widely used categories of credibility, salience, legitimacy (CSL). We propose to consider additional criteria related to feasibility (F), as CSL criteria alone often seem to produce indicators which are unachievable in practice. Considering CSL & F together requires a combination of scientific knowledge, communication skills, policy and governance insights and on-field experience. We present a checklist to evaluate CSL & F of your ES indicators. This checklist helps to detect and mitigate critical shortcomings in an early phase of the development process, and aids the development of effective indicators to inform actual policy decisions

A More Effective Ramsar Convention for the Conservation of Mediterranean Wetlands

International audienceThe Ramsar Convention is the multilateral agreement aimed at protecting wetlands globally. Wetlands are particularly recognized for their role in the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot by providing key habitats for endemic and migratory species, directly contributing benefits to the lives of people and being an integral part of their culture. In response to this importance, the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory publishes Mediterranean Wetland Outlooks (MWOs) on the state and trends of Mediterranean wetlands; the first edition in 2012 (MWO1) and the second edition in 2018 (MWO2). In this paper, we used the results of the two Mediterranean Wetland Outlooks to highlight ways to increase the impact of the Ramsar Convention by identifying the spatial dimensions of detected biodiversity trends as well as the societal developments and estimated impacts of global change and protection status

Schematic diagram of P-gp internalization by LRP-1 receptor and its implication in MCF-7 cells drug resistance.

Schematic diagram of P-gp internalization by LRP-1 receptor and its implication in MCF-7 cells drug resistance.</p

RAP sensitized MCF-7R cells to Dox cytotoxic effects and reduced IC₅₀.

A and B, MCF-7S and MCF-7R cells were treated with different Dox concentrations (from 0 to 10 μM) with or without 500 nM RAP. After 48 and 72h, cell viability was measured by UptiBlue Viable Cell Counting Assay. The results were presented as percentage of control and represented with standard deviation (S.D.) of at least three independent experiments. Student’s t-test was used for the statistical significance of different values.° NS, *** pC, MCF-7R cells were pretreated with Verapamil (5 μM) for 6h and incubated with Dox (1 μM). After 48 and 72h, cell viability was measured using UptiBlue Viable Cell Assay. The results obtained from three independent experiments (% of control) were represented with standard deviation (S.D.). Student’s t-test was used for the statistical significance of different values. **** pD, summary table of IC50 and RI (resistance Index). IC50 represents the mean half maximal inhibitory concentration. RI was assessed using the quotient of the IC50 values (IC50 MCF-7R/IC50 MCF-7) in each treatment conditions. Student’s t-test was used for the statistical significance of different values. *** p<0.001 for RAP-MCF-7R cells compared to untreated MCF-7R cells.</p

RAP and LRP-1 silencing by siRNA promoted the caspase-7 activation in Dox-treated MCF-7R cells.

MCF-7S, MCF-7R, scRNA-MCF-7R and siRNA-MCF-7R cells were incubated with 5 μM Dox with or without 500 nM RAP for 12 hours. A, Procaspase-7 and cleaved caspase-7 were detected by Western blotting. β-actin antibody was used as a control. The results were represented by three independent experiments. Quantity one software was used to quantify the intensity of the bands. Student’s t-test was used for the statistical significance of different values. *** pB, Caspase-7 activity was measured by caspACE assay kit. The results obtained from three independent experiments were represented with standard deviation (S.D.). Student’s t-test was used for the statistical significance of different values. ** p<0.01 and **** p<0.0001 compared to control cells. ¥¥¥ p<0.001 compared to Dox-treated cells.</p

Overexpression of P-gp and LRP-1 in MCF-7R.

MCF-7S and MCF-7R cells were cultured for 24 hours. Detection of P-gp, Lamp-1 and LRP-1/β chain was evaluated by Western-blot. β-actin antibody was used as a control. The results were represented by three independent experiments. Quantity one software was used to quantify the intensity of the bands. Student’s t-test was used for the statistical significance of different values. *** p<0.001 for MCF-7R cells compared to MCF-7S cells. The ratio was calculated with densitometry value of the protein of interest/ densitometry value of the β-actin.</p

RAP and LRP-1 silencing by siRNA decreased the level and density of lysosome in MCF-7R cells.

MCF-7S, MCF-7R cells that incubated with or without 500 nM RAP for 12 hours were used in this experiment. The endocytic organelles were isolated by density gradient centrifugation as detailed in Materials and Methods. sucrose gradient was analysed using invertase enzyme assay as described in Materials and Methods. Detection of P-gp and Lamp-1 were evaluated by Western-blot in all collected aliquots (A-D). The intensity of the bands was quantified by densitometry using quantity one program. Student’s t-test was used for the statistical significance of different values. ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 for MCF-7R cells versus MCF-7S cells, ## p < 0.01, ### p < 0.001 for MCF-7R treated cells versus MCF-7R untreated cells (E,F,G).</p

ERK1/2 inhibition reduced Dox cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 cells.

MCF-7S and MCF-7R cells were incubated with 1 μM Dox with or without 500 nM RAP and 1 μM U0126 48 hours. A, Cell viability was measured using UptiBlue Viable Cell Assay. B, Caspase-7 activity was measured by caspACE assay kit. The results obtained from three independent experiments (% of control) were represented with standard deviation (S.D.). Student’s t-test was used for the statistical significance of different values. *** p<0.001 compared to Dox-treated cells and ¥¥¥ p<0.001, ¥¥¥¥ p<0.0001 compared to Dox- and RAP-treated cells.° NS, U0126-treated cells versus Dox-treated cells.</p